Blackhorn Gunpowder Boston MA

Local resource for Blackhorn gunpowder in Boston. Includes detailed information on local businesses that provide access to Blackhorn 209 powder, muzzleloading propellants, propellent powder, and black powder substitutes as well as gunpowder reviews and other information.

Blackhorn 209 Review

At the 2008 SHOT show I met the representatives of the Western Powders company and after talking about our favorite subject, reloading, they indicated that they would send me a sample of their new Blackhorn 209 powder. They carry many other powders including AA 5744 which is one of my all time favorites to load old guns.

Recently I was given a sample of a new muzzleloading propellant to test out. According to the label it is meant for modern muzzleloaders using a 209 shotgun primer, hence its name. One thing I found out right off, is its low density as the kernels are hollow. It comes in a conventional 1 pound can but contains only 10 ounces of powder. You could say it is the black powder equivalent of Trail Boss. The powder is black and looks like an extruded powder such as 4895. However the kernels are hollow which makes it less dense. They also carry the AA line of powders which I count among my favorites. They can be contacted at www.blackhorn209.com or call 406-234-0422.

Blackhorn 209 muzzleloader powder by Western Powders

Blackhorn 209 powder, note the holes

Since I do a lot of obsolete cartridge firearms, I decided to load in some of my rifles chambered for the oldies. I loaded it the same as I do black powder or a substitute meaning that the loads are slightly compressed. There is no information regarding loading this powder in cartridge firearms so I am on my own. Right away I found that you can't put as much of the 209 in a case as other black powder and the various substitutes that I have worked with. For instance in a 38-55 case 30 grains is about all that will fit where I can put 40 grains of the others in the same case. Anyway I loaded some with a 245 grain cast bullet and chronographed. In spite of the lesser amount powder I obtained some pretty impressive velocities in the 1500 fps range. I know that the chronograph is working fine because the recoil felt like 1500 and I did some other loads with known velocities.

That may not be scientific but if you are familiar with a certain gun you can tell the difference between 1200 and 1500 feet per second. I ran two loads one with standard primers and the second with a magnum brand. There was a little difference but it wasn't enough to worry about. All the loads I shot so far were consistent, indicating good ignition. I used some in the 45-70 with a 300 grain bullet, and like the 38-55 it produced good velocities with a lesser amount of powder then the black powder and its substitutes. For now I am going to treat it like the other powders I am using, such as Clean Shot and various Pyrodex and black powders. That means that I will not allow any loads with airspace, because like the others it may be a danger. However the lab informs me that they have shot loads that didn't fill up the case and obtained decent results though the velocities were low.

Two good candidates for the 209, left 577 Snider and the mighty 577 MH